Katrina Scott and Varvara Lepchenko meet in the opening round of WTA Barranquilla on September 7 at 19:00 UTC. The hard-court question is simple: can Scott get on top of the veteran’s serve before Lepchenko’s left-handed forehand starts moving her around?
Scott’s ceiling rises above one flat afternoon
Scott’s latest outing was a grim 3-6, 1-6 loss to Katie Swan in US Open qualifying, but it should not erase her Landisville burst. She beat No. 167 Mai Hontama 6-2, 6-2, returning with depth and taking the court early; that front-foot version is exactly what Lepchenko’s loose service games invite.
Lepchenko arrives after losing 1-6, 5-7 to No. 184 Gabriela Knutson, her second consecutive straight-set defeat. More troubling is the recurring script: she has often started well, then lost control once opponents read the serve and settled into the rallies. Her left-handed forehand still gives Scott a proper geometry lesson, especially into the backhand corner.
The first swing matters less than the second
Lepchenko may make the cleaner start; recent matches show she can disrupt opponents before they find their return position. Scott’s task is not to chase winners but to drive returns deep through the middle, deny the first forehand angle and keep asking Lepchenko to hold.
At identical winner odds, Scott has the more persuasive recent peak and the fresher attacking ceiling. Her New York dip keeps confidence measured, but after two weeks to reset, Scott at 1.84 is the side to back.
Prediction: Katrina Scott to win, odds 1.84
